Hey good people, we just launched the Calavera Tool Works 5# Utility Bag System. Check out this sweet video from our friends out West to get an idea what it's all about, then hit me with whatever questions you might have.

Oh, and though we spent many, many months testing these out on jobsites and workshops around the country, I'd like to enlist a few product testers from this neck of the woods. First 4 folks to send me a PM will get a 4-Bag intro system to use and abuse to their heart's content. No strings attached... just looking for a little product feedback.

Up a ladder, on a roof... or under a house. I've dragged way too many flimsy home center bags and ripped up boxes on my way to repair busted pvc.

I honestly think you'll find limitless uses for them... which is really how the system came to be. I kept sending out singles for people to test out, but then realized they'd want at least a few to really integrate into their workflow. After that realization, it looked like they'd need a home so I cooked up the storage bars. And since the MFT is one of my top 3 favorite Festools, I figured I'd better give that some love as well.

But everyone is different. Some people use them as replacements for their toolbelts altogether and some use them to store all their Domino tenons. And I want to hear about em all!

I would have killed for these a few months ago. I live in Florida and when we have hurricanes I put up shutters locally. Having a pocket full of t-nuts sucks and it's even worse when you only need two more and your up on the roof and run out.

You're so right. And that right there (roof applications, not t-nuts exactly) was one of the primary justifications for the drawcord and heavy duty materials.... I wanted someone to be able to throw them onto or off of a roof without worrying that they'd spill everywhere!

That, and just about more than anything else... sometimes all you need is a drill and a bag of screws! Why lug a 30lb toolbelt onto a roof, or heck... anywhere else that you don't absolutely need it.

I would have killed for these a few months ago. I live in Florida and when we have hurricanes I put up shutters locally. Having a pocket full of t-nuts sucks and it's even worse when you only need two more and your up on the roof and run out.

I think they would be great for any trade. I install kitchens and do renos and can see it being used for a wide variety of tasks. Looks good for any time you have to go up and down ladders all day. Too bad I'm #6.

Goner, You are quite right on all accounts. And since we've had various iterations of the system out in the field for the past 6-7 months, it's been pretty fun to see them take on a life of their own. Some guys use them for what I'd call their original stated purpose, as single-purpose storage bags for high-use consumables such as dominos or fasteners, but lots more of them are being used as task-specific job kits, made up of a few tools and components necessary for a specific application. As in, "leave the toolbelt... just take what you need."

At the end of the day, we figured we should just make the bags as tough and versatile as possible, and leave the rest to the user's imagination. More or less, I think it can be pretty safely said that no two shops or jobsites are the same.

Dan and I have some good history, actually. Excellent guy, and really knows his Festool. One of the very first attendees at a Festool End-User training, if I recall correctly. Need to give him a shout soon.

Hey good people, we just launched the Calavera Tool Works 5# Utility Bag System. Check out this sweet video from our friends out West to get an idea what it's all about, then hit me with whatever questions you might have.

Oh, and though we spent many, many months testing these out on jobsites and workshops around the country, I'd like to enlist a few product testers from this neck of the woods. First 4 folks to send me a PM will get a 4-Bag intro system to use and abuse to their heart's content. No strings attached... just looking for a little product feedback.

Received mine yesterday. The aluminum brackets are impressive, extremely well built and laser etched with logo(nice touch). I used one bag for some electrical nuts while hanging some interior lights. I was able to put my screw drive and linemans in there as well saving me some trips up the ladder. I'll update with some more used I find for them as well as pics. Great product!

Hey Brice! Great to hear from you too, old friend. And while it was indeed a challenge to be absent from a community I care so much about, I figured it was better to keep my head down and nose to the grindstone until I had something worthy to share. Looking very forward to catching up with many old friends, no question about it.

Oh, and as you can guess, the MUSA certainly didn't come easy. And goodness knows it didn't come cheap. It was a key driver from day one though, and I'm pretty proud that we pulled it off. Really paid off in terms of quality.

Definitely need to touch base one day soon. All the best to you, and Merry Christmas as well!

Received mine yesterday. The aluminum brackets are impressive, extremely well built and laser etched with logo(nice touch). I used one bag for some electrical nuts while hanging some interior lights. I was able to put my screw drive and linemans in there as well saving me some trips up the ladder. I'll update with some more used I find for them as well as pics. Great product!

Hey guys any more feedback on this product? I'm still waiting on mine to arrive but I have had a few projects at work where these could have been real handy. After I test them out I plan to order a few sets for my maintenance staff.

Recieved mine from Toolnut yesterday, REALLY nicely made. I send a lot of time working of ladders and on scaffolding so they will be great for that purpose. Are you or were you a climber?? They are very close cousins to chalk bags and the biner is a dead ringer for my Metolious minis although they are marked not for climbing.

I was looking at chalk bags this morning thinking I could cobble a few together a little cheaper as I like the idea. Ive seen the same concept applied to treat pouches for dogs, so the idea gets around. Anyway there are some details that make calabera more suitable to construction and similar tasks. I would like to see them offer a smaller bag for when I need to keep a handful of small screws and fittings on hand.

I hear you, and yes, there are quite a few other sizes on the way, in addition to a a wider range of components for the extrusions (no one trick pony here!). Matter of fact, the name of the bags is a bit of a play on words, or terms if you will... the "5#" is a reference to a 5# box of nails or screws (most common sized fastener purchase at a home center or lumberyard, and in serious need of a redesign at that). It also represents #5 in a series... as #'s 1-10 are already pretty much in the can, but I wanted to get this thing started with a focus on a single, broadly useful size.

And funny... there are actually two other Easter eggs hidden in the naming... working at a construction supply house as a kid, I filled up a lot of brown paper sacks with bulk nail orders. To the best of my understanding those brown paper sacks that we all know so well are actually numbered based on how much flour or sugar they could hold (they've been around a long time). And I filled up a whole lot of paper sacks with the #5 on them between the ages of 13 and 22.

Finally, growing up in the South, there was a bit of a colloquialism surrounding the 5# Bag. Something to the effect of stuffing too much of a certain something into said bag and the results not looking so great (I'll let you look that one up). Well, I used this as a little more inspiration for my own 5# Bags, building them strong enough, and with so many double seams and reinforcement, that you can stuff just about whatever you want in there and they'll still work out just fine.

So there you have it... more than you could have ever wanted to know about how the 5# Gear Bag got its name.

I was looking at chalk bags this morning thinking I could cobble a few together a little cheaper as I like the idea. Ive seen the same concept applied to treat pouches for dogs, so the idea gets around. Anyway there are some details that make calabera more suitable to construction and similar tasks. I would like to see them offer a smaller bag for when I need to keep a handful of small screws and fittings on hand.

we are so certain of the utility of the CALAVERA Toolbags that TSO Products will shortly offer the product line with an unconditional 90-Day money-back satisfaction guarantee (after you have used the product hard!)You will also be able to buy special product combinations of CALAVERA components at TSOProducts.com

And of course - you will be able to have your order shipped anywhere between Australia and Europe in addition to North America.

Look for availability on our website in January 2017 -HAPPY NEW YEAR to all

Excellent writeup on Calavera Tool Works by our friend Chris Marshall over at Woodworkers Journal. Give it a look!

New tools and accessories fill the pages of our “What’s In Store” department in every print issue of Woodworker’s Journal and our weekly eZine. But when’s the last time you can recall seeing a single new idea to help get you and your shop better organized? Try to think of something other than the latest version of multi-drawer steel tool chest on wheels… Tough to land on a product, isn’t it? While there’s always a new pneumatic nailer, a more powerful battery or another band saw coming to market, innovation in the sphere of shop organization and personal woodworking apparel very rarely happens...

After receiving a set of the bags from you before Christmas I've been meaning to give you some feedback.

I've been impressed. Quality is outstanding. Durability seems to be great. I can imagine them lasting for a long time. The hardware and attachment rails are a great idea and mate perfectly with the MFT for ready access but being out of the way.

I've been using my bags for a few projects and I like them. They are convenient, a great size, light weight and the attachment points between the belt clip and the carabiner offer lots of flexibility. Each bag has an area for a label with contents but I have not yet labeled mine. Perhaps when you have a few dozen that will be necessary.

One of my favorite features is the 'grab and go' aspect. The rail and clips make storage and access easy but out of the way of the bench or work area. I invariably am always knocking my screws, nails, or hardware off the top of the bench or pushing it out of the way with the wood. I work in a shop most of the time, and your bags work great at the bench or when working on sawhorses.

The other day, I had to replace a few receptacles and dropped them in one of the bags along with a pair of cutters, needle nose and a screwdriver and clipped it to my belt. it was easy to move around the room without having to keep up with my tools or deal with trash from the receptacle boxes, wire trimmings, etc. Just drop it in the bag and move on. Fast and easy and 'right at hand' made the bags a pleasure to use.

The drawstrings make it easy to cinch the bags closed to both keep wood dust and chips out of them when not in use but also reduce the chance of the contents spilling out. I would like to see smaller options, perhaps a 1# and maybe a 2# size to hold smaller quantities of screws. Sounds like you have those in the works.

I'd also like to see something that might have internal or external loops and perhaps a plastic cup - thinking about how to easily configure a tool holder in one of the bags that I could clip to my belt but also keep organized. Think of a 'bucket boss' but in a 5# bag size to hold maybe half a dozen tools but also make them easy to keep organized. Sometimes I'll grab a few screws or a few hooks when hanging pictures. I imagine a small plastic box, similar to what I have in the cantilevered Festool box or the Screw assortment box in the bottom to hold small items but not have to remove everything to find them in the black recesses of the bag.

I can also see a selection of these in a Sys2 or Sys3 that become a great organizer of screws, fasteners or hardware that you could take to a job site in an organized fashion but offer a lot of modularity to grab and go.

Great product - you're on to something with these! I'll be adding additional sizes as they become available.

Neil! What an awesome surprise to wake up to such an excellent review this morning! Super cool. Thanks so much for posting.

What's great is that your experience is like so many others... a little unsure at first, but once they're in your hands, the wheels start turning and the system really makes sense. Let there be no doubt... I'm asking people to think a little differently and to approach their workflow and storage needs with fresh eyes, but I wouldn't have put these out there in the first place if I wasn't 100% confident that this system can help users work more efficiently while reducing waste.

And of course I'm stoked to see your opening comment on quality and durability. Knowing this end of the market pretty well, I knew I'd get eaten alive if those weren't top priority!

@Pawel! I could not love it more! Excellent application for the Gear Bags. Without much experience in that field, I would have never known exactly which sizes or brands to use/show, so this is great to see. Thanks so much for posting!

@rizzoa13, It sounds like you are doing something very similar as well. Would love to see some pics if you've got a moment. And if it's easier, just send over to michael@toolbelts.com

Perhaps we need to do a giveaway of sorts for all these excellent application pics... hmmmm... Swag is definitely needed here.

Post some pics of your best application for the 5# Gear Bags and I'll set you up with a t-shirt or one of our sweet new lids.

Braden Stadlman, whose work would most assuredly be recognized by the Festool Crowd, along with David Askew (you'd recognize him too, folks) of Integrity Construction were cool enough to spend a recent weekend hooking up this excellent piece of work. Thanks fellas! Much appreciated!

For me, this was one of those products you have to get your hands on to appreciate the quality of the product.

It's simple. It's a bag that will hold items for you. You're limited to your imagination as to what you can store in the 5# bags.

Let me share a few pictures with you. I'm sure you'd rather look at something rather than read about it.

Obviously you can store domino tenons or biscuits in the Cavalera 5# bags....and you can store a butt load of them. You can use the I.D window and keep a domino or biscuit inside so you can easily identify what's inside the bag.

I needed to hang a picture. Instead of carrying a few tools I was able to load up the tools needed in the 5# bag and get the job done. Clipped the 5# bag onto the loop on my pants and off I went into the house. You can also use the belt clip if you don't have a loop on your pants. I could see guys needing to know out a punch list on a job site loading a few tools in a bag or two and checking off the punch list.

This is what I had inside the 5# bag to hand the picture. Stud finder, cordless drill, pencil, a couple 2" screws, small level and a tape measure. The painters tape was hanging off the clip.

Here some other ideas for you. Maybe get the gears moving and give you some ideas. I'm not a pro. But I imagine a painter on a ladder or scaffolding needing to keep a good amount of sandpaper on him. You can easily carry a bunch of sandpaper inside the 5# bag.

Window and door installers can hold 5 tubes of caulk in a 5# bag. Either on your waist or stored in your truck.

Now, I know some of you guys keep a secret tool account that maybe someone else in the house may not need to know about. So if you need a secret hiding spot for your tool money, just put an electrical wire nut in the I.D window and keep your secret stash in a safe spot. I mean really......when was the last time your wife went into your shop looking for a wire nut ?

In all seriousness, the 5# bag is very well made. I was pleasantly surprised when I got my hands on them. At first it was a product I could not see myself using. I'm a hobbyist not a pro. But once I received it, looked around and started putting things in them to test out the bags, I can honestly see myself using a couple in my shop. At $20 a bag it's a good storage solution. Heck, you can fill the 5# bag up with peanuts or M&M's and keep a snack sack clipped on you all day.

I would like to thank Calavera Tool Works for the opportunity to test the 5# bags. And in all fairness, Michael sent me the 5# bags to test. Check them out guys. They are built to last !

Check out the excellent writeup from our amigos over at Toolbelt Productions and THISisCarpentry.com!

Funny part of this is... the author of the piece, Greg Burnet, was actually one of our very first online customers (so yeah, he paid for the goods!). And though I've counted Greg as a friend for many years, I'm pretty sure he had no idea at the time who was behind Calavera Tool Works. Makes this review of the gear that much better!